Caring for people with CHRONIC CONDITIONS
What to know kno about communicating with you your loved one’s doctor
More than 65 million people in the United States care for someone with a chronic condition, disability or frailty. These caregivers often accompany their loved ones to doctor’s appointments. By making the most of these appointments, caregivers can help improve the care their loved one receives and also ease some of the stress they experience as a caregiver.
“It is important for caregivers to understand that individuals with chronic conditions are coping not just with the disease itself, but also with the possible restriction of activity, tiredness, lack of energy, dietary changes, pain, lack of sleep, frustration, medication reactions and depression, among other things,” said Beverly Dunlap, program coordinator for the Older Americans Act Unit of the Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of Aging and Adult Services.
Dunlap said 88 percent of older adults have at least one chronic condition, and 50 percent have at least two conditions. It is most common for senior adults to suffer from conditions such as Type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure or arthritis, among others.
If you are a caregiver, consider these tips:
INTRODUCE YOURSELF
Get permission from your loved one to speak directly with doctors. This typically requires the patient to sign a release form at each doctor’s office. Explain your role. Ask questions about diagnoses, medications and ongoing care needs.
EDUCATE YOURSELF
Understanding your loved one’s conditions will help you better communicate with doctors and make you a better advocate.
“Many people fear the unknown,” Dunlap said. “It is hard to cope with a condition if you do not understand it. Knowing what your possible symptoms and limitations are and knowing what your management options are can give you a sense of control and make the future less threatening.”
DOCUMENT IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Keeping a record of physician contacts, medications, symptoms and health changes will help you remember what to address at each appointment and help the doctor make informed decisions. Ask for copies of test results, and keep them for future reference.
“Remembering your medications and exact dosages is not always easy, especially if [the patient is] taking several medications,” Dunlap said “They may need someone to be able to speak to emergency personnel on their behalf and having this information written down will expedite the process and get them the needed care more efficiently.”
UNDERSTAND HEALTH COVERAGE AND BENEFITS
Before appointments, learn what is covered by your loved one’s health plan. Ask physicians about the risks, benefits and alternatives to their recommendations and the associated cost. Avoid financial surprises by understanding out-of-pocket costs for appointments, tests or procedures. If you have questions, call the number on the back of the insurance card.
“If a caregiver does not fully understand their loved one’s insurance coverage, he or she can contact SHIP, the Arkansas Senior Health Insurance Information Program,” Dunlap added.
This program provides free one-on-one counseling, education and information to individuals of all ages with Medicare, according to the organization’s website.
ASK QUESTIONS
Come to appointments prepared with a list of questions. During the visits, take notes so you can refer to them later.
DON’T NEGLECT YOUR OWN HEALTH
Taking care of yourself will put you in the best position to provide care for others. If you care for an older adult or anticipate taking on a caregiver role, you should know about the tools and resources available to make the job of being a caregiver a bit easier.